Winners have been revealed for the 2023 Black Theatre Awards.

The awards were announced at a ceremony last night, Sunday 29 October 2023, at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre on the Southbank.

The Black British Theatre Awards are the UK’s first awards to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.

See below for the full list of winners. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jamaican actress, theatre director and businesswoman Yvonne Brewster OBE.

Sylvia at the Old Vic picked up two awards – Best Musical Director for Sean Green, and the award for Best Musical Production.

Presenters at this year’s awards included Strictly Come Dancing contestant Layton Wiliams, Cush Jumbo OBE, Mzz Kimberley – Kim Tatumwith, Omar F. Okai, Solange Urdang, Merryl Ansah, Matt Henry MBE, Indra Ové, Jason Pennycooke, Emmanuel Akwafo, Rakie Ayola, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE, Myles Frost, Kanya King CBE, Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE, Brenda Emmanus OBE, ⁠Shaun Escoffery, Nicola Blackman, and ⁠Lord Dr Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE.

Featured performances included the cast of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Danny Sapani, and Guys & Dolls star Cedric Neal, who also received the Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick Award.

The Awards have three founding patrons who support and champion activities: Television presenter, radio broadcaster and journalist Brenda Emmanus OBE; former Chief Executive of The Place, Director of The Africa Centre, and choreographer and dancer with London Contemporary Dance Theatre Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE; and composer, visionary artist, cultural activist and music educator Dr Shirley Thompson OBE.

Also, check out Getty photos of this year’s winners, and red carpet arrivals; and read about this year’s nominees.

Book tickets to the Black British Theatre Awards

Black Theatre Awards 2023 – Winners

CREATIVES GROUP

BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
Mya Onwugbonu, Hear Me Now – Southwark Playhouse Theatre

BEST PRODUCER AWARD
Jazz Lintott and Frank Skully, Going for Gold – UK Tour

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR AWARD
Sean Green, Sylvia – The Old Vic Theatre

BEST CHOREOGRAPHER OR MOVEMENT DIRECTOR AWARD
Mthuthuzeli November, Nina: By Whatever Means – UK Tour

BEST OPERA PRODUCTION OR PERFORMER AWARD
Nadine Benjamin, Blue, – English National Opera

BEST DANCE PRODUCTION OR PERFORMER AWARD
Isabela Coracy, Nina: By Whatever Means – UK Tour

PLAYS

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Toyin Ayedun-Alase, Alice in Wonderland – Brixton House Theatre

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Christian Alifoe, Sucker Punch – Uk Tour

BEST FEMALE LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Toyin Ayedun-Alase, The Clinic – Almeida Theatre

BEST MALE LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY AWARD
Jazz Lintott, Going for Gold – UK Tour

BEST NON BINARY PERFORMER IN A PLAY AWARD
Phoebe Campbell, The Importance of Being Earnest – UK Tour

BEST PRODUCTION PLAY AWARD
Going For Gold – Uk Tour

MUSICALS

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Billie-Kay Payne, Annie the Musical, UK Tour

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Kyrelle Lammy, Nativity: The Musical, Birmingham Repertory Theatre

BEST FEMALE LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Elesha Paul Moses, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre

BEST MALE LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

BEST NON BINARY PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL AWARD
Claudia Kariuki, Six the Musical, Vaudeville Theatre

BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION AWARD
Sylvia, The Old Vic

RECOGNITION GROUP (BODY OF WORK)

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN AWARD
Joshie Harriette

BEST SOUND DESIGN AWARD
Xana

BEST THEATRE DESIGN AWARD
Debbie Duru

BEST PLAYWRIGHT AWARD
Adenike Ojo

BOOK AND LYRICS AWARD
Gerel Falconer

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

BEST RECENT GRADUATE AWARD
Leah Vassell, ArtsEd

BEST TEACHER AWARD
Erina Lewis, Platinum Academy

DISABILITY CHAMPION AWARD
Kyrelle Lammy

LGBTQIA+ CHAMPION AWARD
Myles Hart

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Yvonne Jones Brewster OBE

THE LORD HASTINGS OF SCARISBRICK AWARD
For outstanding work within the industry over the last year
Cedric Neal

Links:
Black British Theatre Awards
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Main photo: Black British Theatre Awards

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